…'Meyer' made the mold…but we are all here to break it…lol…

Chapter 31

"HI."

"HI."

He cleared his throat. "Where are you?"

She glanced around as she wiped quickly under her eye, removing yet another tiny stray tear, then she whispered back into the receiver, "Some coffee shop…um…called MoMo's…I think."

Silence.

"I've been calling you."

"I know. I'm sorry. I'm feeling really stupid right now…amongst other things."

More silence.

She could hear him let out a shuddery breath and could just imagine his free hand gripping his hair in, what?

Frustration?

Worry?

Impatience?

Annoyance?

All of the above?

Lord knows she was feeling all of those things…about herself.

After her extremely embarrassing exit from her biggest debut…like ever…Bella had directed the cab driver to take her to the nearest coffee shop…that wasn't a well-known chain…not wanting to risk going back to Edward's apartment.

She was so fucking confused.

She felt like such a child.

To say it was a shock would be a gross understatement, but Bella was so blindsided by the appearance of not only one Lauren Stanley…a-fucking-gain…but some other apparent ex-girlfriend of Edward's…

Vivian? No, Victoria.

Well, what was she expected to do? Especially after seeing yet another woman's lips on his. There was only so much a woman could take. However obvious his own reaction had been. Those lips were hers.

Was this sort of thing doomed to happen all the time? How many crazy ex-girlfriends were out there? And, Lauran…my God! That was her Aunt and Uncle's gallery for freaks sake. The girl had no respect and deserved to be excommunicated by her own flesh and blood! What kind of person does that? The answer is obvious; the Lauren Stanley kind of person.

And, God…Mr. and Mrs. Henderson. What they must think of Bella now. Such a scene, and in front of all of their New York connections and colleagues.

Her potential connections and colleagues.

Christ!

If only everything could go back to the way it was before Edward Cullen appeared with chaos and upheaved her life. It had taken her so long to get to where she was after the effects Riley's abandonment and his apparent drug abuse had left on her shoulders. She didn't want to feel like a fool all over again…for making poor choices.

Something hit her painfully in her gut with that last thought. She had a feeling that what she thought were her current 'poor choices' were not really poor choices at all. At least not all of them. She'd hit the beautiful man in his head after all. Definitely a poor choice. But was allowing herself to indulge and be with him one, too?

She wasn't quite ready to face that music.

She was ready to acknowledge that her heart hurt…ached…yearned.

"Bella, look…sweetheart," he cleared his throat, his voice sounding a little on the watery side, "you have to know I had nothing to do with…any of that nonsense. I have no idea why Lauren was there…well, I take that back…I do…she's a selfish immature bitch…but I think I can guess what Victoria's intent was. She actually called me right before she showed up and Officer Burke knows everything. It's the whole reason I had him there in the first place. She is the one who had her cronies vandalize Brazil and The Blue Sage. There have been certain…instances…that occurred in the two weeks after I left you to come back here. It had everything to do with me, baby. Not you. Please."

He heart constricted. He'd kept all of that from her. Still processing, she spoke slowly, quietly, "Um, who is Victoria, Edward? You didn't tell me anything about her before. Is she your girlfriend?"

He sighed. "Was, B…was. I'd wanted to break things with her for months but I just didn't want to deal with the shit storm I knew that would cause. After I saw you again after all these years I knew I had to pull my head out of my ass. And I did…right after that morning at the beach." He groaned in frustration. "Let me come there so we can talk."

He sounded so…guilty…sad. Her eyes tried to blink away the pain that caused her to feel.

"No, please," she took a deep breath, trying not the let her voice tremble, "I'm just…so confused…about everything. I, um, need to think…and I…can't do that very well when you're within viewing distance…um…you know…because you're…like, sin walking…and all that..." Her hand motioned around up and down in front of her like she could see him.

She heard him snort at that.

"Baby," his voice was low and just a little gruff, "if I am sin walking then you are sex personified."

"Not according to Angela, 'Sex'." She gave a small smile as she fiddled with the crushed napkin next to her empty coffee cup. "Look, Edward. I am really sorry I hit you in the head with that shaker. It is probably one of the stupidest things I have ever done in my life." She wiped at another silent stray tear. "I have no idea why I did that. It's not who I am at all…" She closed her eyes. "You just make me so crazy."

He barely heard those last words. "You make me crazy too, baby. And, I have known exactly who you are for over a decade, and that girl is sweet and caring and beautiful inside and out…and full of spice when the time is right." He paused, his voice a low sexy grumble when he continued, "But I should warn you that I am keeping count. I've made a list. That's three times you have aimed something at my head, B. No wait, that makes four times, because I have two heads. Be prepared for payback…"

Giving a little eye roll at his very-Edward-effort to ease the topic, including his threat, she bit her lip and let out a long slow breath, finding it simultaneously impossible to ignore the thrill she felt run through her. "Edward, don't be so nice to me right now, okay? I don't deserve it…like…at all."

She heard the creaking of what sounded like a leather chair in the background where he was when he responded next. "Bella, let me come get you…"

Fuck, she's gonna cry again.

Blink blink…blinkblink, blink blink…

How can he even want to see her again after she had hurt him, despite her confusion about the events that caused it all? She ignored his plea and said, "I am more worried about your head. Is it bad?"

"Oh, it's bad alright. Full of all kinds of bad thoughts. Like how you have been very bad, and bad girls get-"

"Edward! Stop it! Please…tell me how your head is?"

Snort. "You walked right into that one, didn't you, B?"

"Oh my God!"

"Okay, okay! It's nothing really…just a tiny bump and I will most likely be sporting a very sexy war wound by tomorrow morning. Pair it along with that bruise I gave you on your neck and we will match."

Now it was her turn to snort a little. "You are incorrigible."

"My mama raised me good."

"You mother obviously didn't give you enough spankings."

"B, you really are making this too easy for me…"

Another eye roll. "Changing the subject now!" She cleared her throat and swallowed. "You're not gonna like this."

He'd stopped breathing, she could tell. He was nervous…worried.

"Just tell me, Bella?"

She steeled herself. "I um, sorta asked the limo driver, Demitri, to gather my belongings from your apartment. He'll be here any second. I'm gonna stay in a hotel tonight and fly back to Texas in the morning." She froze and waited.

Silence.

"I'll fly back here on the red-eye for the Saturday event only and leave right afterward. I've already spoken to Angela."

She heard him swallow thickly like he was holding his reaction back.

More silence.

He cleared his throat again. "Well, um…that's another mark for you under the 'bad' column, Miss Swan."

Wait…what?

His response was completely unexpected.

Everything about him was unexpected.

Three weeks of complete and utter unexpected Edward.

"What? Why? I didn't throw anything at your head this time!"

"It was a throw-by-words this time. You flung them at me and they made a direct hit. Where it hurts the most. I don't want you to go, sweetheart. Stay and talk to me, B."

She shook her head. "I really need to do this. I need to figure out…" she paused and looked around the coffee shop, hoping for the answer to pop out at her.

It didn't.

"Fuck! I don't know what I need to figure out, but…I just need to."

More silence.

"Okay, Bella. Just…um…don't disappear on me, alright?" He sounded so unsure.

Kill me now…please.

Another small tear. "I won't, Edward. I promise. Besides, you've made a list dedicated to me." She gave a sad frown and continued, trying to make it all easier, "That's pretty cool. And weird. And…somehow…important."

His own voice was and quiet as he whispered back, "It is. Very much so, baby. A list is like a Hallmark-"

She whined, "Edward…just…um…look…would it be okay…it is okay if I text you?"

She heard him exhale through his nose, sounding relieved. "If you don't then the list will only grow."

Huge smile.

She took a deep breath then let it out and whispered, "Edward…"

"Yeah?"

"I will miss you."

Silence.

"B?"

"Yeah?"

"I already miss you."

xxCSxx

THERE WERE three sharp knocks at his office door. He kept his head down and focused on the numbers on the paper in front of him, trying not to lose the figures in his head as he answered, "Yeah, come in…"

The door creaked open and a throat cleared. "Umhum, Mr. Cullen. Do you have time to talk?"

At the sound of Officer Burke's voice, Edward let the pencil drop from his hand, no longer caring about the damn figures. He was only doing the books himself to keep Bella's absence out of his mind.

It was Tuesday morning, two days after 'the showing'. It sounded like a horror movie in his head.

He leaned back and smoothed a hand down his face, then spoke tiredly, "Sure, make yourself at home, Officer Burke. There's coffee if you want some."

Officer Burke gave a sharp quick laugh, "It's Charlie, please. And, to be honest, I am floating in coffee already. Just finished a night shift and coffee is a must at all hours. It's time to wind down, not up." He entered the room and flopped down in the chair next to Edward's desk, running his own hand tiredly over his eyes and down his face to scratch at his mustache before dropping it to his lap.

"Donut, then?" Edward couldn't resist.

Charlie raised his eye brow at Edward, and warned, "You do know I have a gun?" He stared…and stared…and stared down at the young restaurateur some more. Then he cracked a smile. "I'm just joking, son. Seriously, Mr. Cullen, this is a bit more of an informal visit."

"Please…just Edward. It's only fair."

Charlie nodded at that. "Look, I just wanted to drop by and give you an update of sorts…as weird as they may seem." Then he scoffed, "What the hell am I saying? This is New York City, after all. Weird things happen every minute of every day!"

Taking in the expression on Officer Burke's…erm…Charlie's face, Edward switched his laptop to hibernate, and then he reached down and pulled open his own bottom drawer. Jackson wasn't the only one with a 'secrete' stash. He was pretty sure Nikki had one, too. Pulling out a small flask of 'the good stuff', he unscrewed the lid and took a healthy swig, then offered it to Charlie, smirking, "It's 5 o'clock somewhere…"

Charlie's face remained stoic; however, he had no problem reaching for the offered elixir and taking a swig himself, then handed it back. Edward grabbed it and left it out on his desk. "Alright, let's hear it."

"Alright-"

Just then, another knock sounded at the door, and then it flew open and slammed shut even faster as Jackson barged in and seated himself on the small plush couch across from them. Seeing the flask out on the table, he stood quickly and grabbed it, taking one…then two…healthy swigs himself. Replacing it back down on Edward's desk, he took his seat quickly again and ran both hands through his hair several times, then he released a long puff of breath and finally made an attempt to relax back into the cushion. His knee started to bounce repeatedly. He was not relaxed at all.

Edward and Charlie both stared at Jackson.

Raising both hands in question, Jackson eyed them back, "Wha'? Can't a fella support his buddy? You know…be there and shit?"

Edward tried to hide his amusement at his long time, usually cool-as-a-cucumber, friend. Jackson didn't like cops. They made him a little edgy…for a reason. Old habit.

Charlie's eye gave a little twitch. He knew Mr. Lutz from previous events.

He cleared his throat and continued, keeping one eye on their new arrival, "Look, I gotta tell you, I have a lot of respect for a man who not only takes precaution for those near and dear…but it is a whole other enchilada when that man choses to forgive and forget instead of pressing charges."

Edward looked a little confused. "Um…I don't…quite follow, Charlie."

"Look, Edward. You have evidence. One, there is your video surveillance when both of the restaurants were vandalized, and two, with the phone call prior to Victoria Denali's appearance at Gallery Nine. The broad," Jackson smirked at the officer's choice of words, "threatened you, for cryin' out loud. It takes a better man to turn the other cheek…rise above it to stop the flow if you know what I mean. You didn't press any charges. And you were physically assaulted, too. No matter that she was an ex."

Edward had the grace to look embarrassed by Charlie's praise. "Um, thanks? But how does this constitute as an update, exactly?"

"I'm getting to that, son. I just wanted to get that out of the way." Still seeing Jackson's leg bouncing away, he gave him the Clint Eastwood eye.

Jackson stopped.

"As you know, I took both Miss Stanley and Miss Denali in for booking on grounds of disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and, of course, for assault…and various other infractions. But since neither you nor Miss Swan, once we were able to reach her, chose to press charges, we could only hold them for 24 hours…" pausing, Charlie smirked, his mustache twitched, "…in the same holding cell…" another twitch, "…alone…" and another, "…together."

Edward's mouth fell open a little. He looked back over at Jackson whose eyes were wide as saucers

Everyone remained still, letting it sink in.

Then all three of them busted out laughing.

"Holy, shit! Edward my man…can you just imagine…" Jackson couldn't even finish, he was doubled over his lap.

Edward couldn't even talk, what with visions of ripped out hair and flying fake nails and sequins bombarding his brain…

Charlie reached for the flask and gave a salud to the room…then drank another…

Once they had calmed, Charlie held up his hand and continued, "Now, I know what you are thinking: Those two hell-cats probably had it out in a nasty cat fight being as they were spiting fury and fire at each other when we cuffed 'em. Well, they did fight…at first…but then things took a turn."

Edward straightened up, and sarcastically remarked, "What, did they, like…form an 'I-Screwed-Over-and-Survived-Edward-Cullen' support group or something? Or better yet, did they see themselves in each other and fall in love?" Jackson snorted at that as Edward reached over to high-five him. "They would totally deserve each other…"

He glanced back at Charlie and the smile fell from his face.

"That's exactly right, son. The second part." Charlie's nose and cheeks were starting to turn pink from the alcohol. He burped. "When those two were released the whole station was watching them. It was like two bodies collided and fused together…literally. Quite the spectacle, they were. They were wrapped around each other like white on rye. There were hearts in their eyes for Christ's sake. It was…unexpected…to say the least…weird given the circumstances of their own involvement with you and the events on Sunday night."

Edward sat back heavily in his chair in disbelief.

Talk about vindication.

Jackson gave a low whistle. "Edward man, sounds like you have officially bit the dust where those two are concern."

Eyes still wide, Edward blew out a long breath, and then he took another swig after what he had just learned. "Jesus, let's hope so, man. I would gladly eat a bucket of dust to seal that deal." He sighed.

"There's one more thing. Both Miss Stanley and Miss Denali have made statements with the department issuing an apology to you and Miss Swan, admitting their foul play, separate and independent from each other, however the similarities in their own schemes. Miss Denali asked that we deliver this check to you as payment for damages."

He pause as he reached into his city-issued jacket and produced a cashier's check, then handed it over to one very stunned Edward Cullen. After digesting the amount shown, he handed it over to his also-stunned business partner's outstretched hand.

Jackson said, eloquently, "For fuck's sake!" He stared at the check. "Now I have seen it all. Never knew that bitch had it in her."

Edward just sat still, speechless.

Then Charlie continued, "Miss Stanley's Aunt and Uncle, however, are a different matter entirely. They have filed a restraining order against their niece, prohibiting her from coming within 500 feet of any of their galleries until revoked. She is also restricted from their residences here in New York and down in Texas. Seems she's embarrassed her family members one too many times."

Grabbing the now empty flask, Edward returned the lid and leaned to place it back in his bottom drawer. Thoughtful now, he addressed Charlie. "Thank you for telling me all of this, Charlie. I really appreciate it."

Charlie stood then, preparing to leave. "No problem, Edward. I thought you needed to know everything. It could help you with a certain brown-eyed girl who," hiccup, "excuse me, who may or may not have assaulted you, too. You seem to have quite a track record with the ladies. But I am willing to bet Miss Swan's actions may have been warranted, even if just a little bit. And, I am also willing to bet that you would overlook her…faults...every damn time, too." He stumbled just a bit as he turned towards the door, but recovered quickly.

Jackson snickered, and said, "Whoa there, Charlie. Need a designated driver? Wouldn't want one of New York's finest getting pulled over for drinking and driving, now, would we?"

Charlie just glared, and moved his hand near his gun. "You do know I have a gun? And, it's Officer Burke to you, Lutz."

Jackson shut his mouth quick and left for his own office, no doubt to call Nikki in with the news.

Edward shook his head, raising a hand to Charlie as he left through the office door, hating that this had affected Mr. and Mrs. Henderson in any way. They had really been awesome to him and to Bella in their promotional efforts with his restaurants and her showing.

He hated his involvement in it as well. Thoughts ran back to a certain pebble beach in his hometown, and what would have happened if he had just had the balls to tell Lauren to fuck off that morning instead of creating a fabricated engagement with Bella.

It left a bad taste in his mouth.

And Victoria…well, he knew he should have been more careful with their break up. Fuck, he should have taken one for the team and let her dump him. He should have done so many thing differently.

Bella.

He fucking missed her so much.

He missed her smile, her laugh, her eyes and her hair.

Her smell.

Vanilla.

He missed the way she teased him…and the way she put him in his place. He even missed her angry reactions…because she was so fucking sexy in those moments it drove him crazy. It made him want to go caveman and just take her…claim her…show her she was his and he was hers…and, he wanted to show her that he would take care of her so good…in every way.

He really had made some mistakes.

And he was going to make up for them.

Before any of this nonsense had happened he had known exactly what he wanted.

He'd had a plan.

He'd already started the wheels in motion.

It was time for that plan to happen.

Picking up his cell, he scrolled through his contacts, found the number he wanted, and pressed the call button.

"Edward! I didn't expect to hear back from you so soon."

"Hey, Sam." He sat back in his chair and ran his hand through his hair. "Yeah, I didn't think so either…but um…it's time. I'm ready. Let's do this."

"My boy," Edward could hear the satisfied approval in Sam's voice, "it's not a moment too soon."

Edward smiled, unable to see anything but beautiful brown-eyes and purple-painted toes.

He was going to sweep her off her feet.

Cullen style.

a/n…LOVED writing this chapter…loved…it…now, leave me some love…review review review…please please please…review…

xxx jess